AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Just what the rest of the country does.”
“I’m sure,” she scoffed. “When I found out her killer was Irish American, I looked into his ties… His past was scraped clean.”
“You can’t prove that was me,” I taunted.
“No, otherwise I’d have hauled your ass into HQ sooner.” She sighed. “Why do you make shit so difficult for me, Conor?”
“I’m not like my baby bro, Riggs. I don’t live to serve at America’s pleasure. Anyway, I’ll gladly test your new communication platform.” I’d get my kicks then expose it to that beast of a worm Lodestar had gifted me, one that the Green Beret who’d punched me had crafted from scratch. That would fuck it up in no time. Malware and punches—Maverick’s skill set was far-reaching. “But after the testing, I want the okay to head to Russia.”
“How do we know you’ll return?”
I laughed. “I’m not as self-sacrificing as Snowden. The same rules apply as always, don’t they?”
“They do,” she confirmed bitterly. “You know, when I started in this game, I never thought I’d be doing deals with criminals to protect them and their families from the arm of the law.”
It was my turn to tut. “You said it yourself, Riggs. I’m not a criminal. I’m an asset. Pick me up when you have the okay.”
With that, I cut the call.
Though she’d pissed me off with that final rejoinder, I got to my feet and twisted around to stare at the city skyline in the distance.
This penthouse had been a gift from Da, but his gifts always came after I danced to his tune.
I figured with him gone, that wouldn’t be an issue anymore.
I’d practically been begging for karma to kick me in the nuts.
Moving over to the window, I watched the city that never slept, trying to find comfort in the hive of activity even at this time in the morning, but it wasn’t there.
Turning back to my desk, I stared at the files I’d been combing through for the past couple of weeks. Anything from the politicians the Five Points were setting up to die in ‘accidents’ to the folder I’d been building on Star—her profile.
Lips pursing when my cell buzzed, I reached for it again and stared at the screen as a message notification flashed up.
Riggs: A car will be there in five.
I smirked.
She hated how much her bosses needed me.
I didn’t know if I was as special as they thought I was. Hackers had egos and, sure, I had one too, but from how the US government treated me, I had to be the second coming.
Knowing that I’d be busy for the next few hours at least, I set some programs running and shut others off. I grabbed my main rig, which housed original copies of the worm Star had gifted me—“Best goddamn gift ever,” I muttered under my breath—and I set it up in its case.
With that done, I collected my phone and checked my messages.
My brothers were shooting the shit about a hockey match our newly-discovered cousin, Liam Donnghal, was playing in—apparently, he was doing a good imitation of a toddler on the ice.
Then, I saw one from Aaron Goldstein.
Goldstein: McClure took me to a cigar club tonight.
Me: Hope you enjoyed your first date.
My lips twitched as I strode from my office and headed for the bedroom.
Goldstein: How many times do I have to tell you? I don’t swing that way.
That wasn’t what I remembered from my short stint in college, but if he had memory issues, then that was his problem and not mine.
